Slowdown sought on emissions talks

The Federal government has proposed deferring any talks about binding global emission reduction targets until 2015 and instead will seek a new accounting framework and review process for existing climate change commitments.

The proposal – contained in a submission to the United Nations by the Australian and Norwegian governments in the lead-up to international climate change talks in Durban in November – is designed to revive stalled attempts to achieve binding global emission reductions.

But it is also being seen as a bid to lower expectations of what can be achieved in Durban and instead provide a process for future agreement on binding targets in 2015.

Modelling of the government’s carbon price scheme is based upon an assumption a global carbon price will emerge by 2015-16.

“Existing commitments under the Kyoto Protocol end in December 2012 and Australia supports a binding agreement of all major emitters as soon as practicable after that," a spokesman for Climate Change minister
Greg Combet
said yesterday.

“Australia has proposed a range of actions countries could take in the international negotiations, from 2011 to 2015, to help build an ambitious and legally binding mitigation framework."

In 2010, countries agreed to keep temperature rises to no more than two degrees and many have unilaterally pledged emission reduction targets and actions. But according to the joint submission those targets are fragmented and use different ­measures.

“The mitigation outcome in Durban should help build an ambitious and legally-binding mitigation framework by further anchoring the Cancun mitigation pledges and stepping up ambition to meet the two degrees or lower global goal," the ­submission said.

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“The establishment of a common, accommodating, inclusive international accounting framework will also be a key to further work on ­mitigation."

Under the proposal, countries would agree to common accounting principles and rules and a process for “periodic scaling up of ambition ­levels".

“The mitigation framework should provide the opportunity for parties to add to or enhance their targets and actions," it said

Climate Institute deputy chief executive Erwin Jackson said the joint proposal was a pragmatic approach to building a legally binding agreement that captured all ­emitters.

He said the proposal was aimed at building a new global framework around different kinds of mitigation commitments and provide future flexibility on targets. “The international process, to a certain extent, is not really relevant at the moment," Mr Jackson said.

“We are really in a confidence building stage."

Meanwhile, debate on the government’s clean energy package continued in parliament.

Today, the government is expected to release updated economic modelling on the impact of the package and Treasury will appear before a Select Committee which is examining the legislation.

Yesterday, Mr Combet and Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten announced the Productivity Commission would examine what regulation and policy settings were needed to adapt to changes caused by global warming at the lowest possible cost.